The Andrews Labor Government changed the Legal Aid Act 1978 earlier this year to allow the expansion of the VLA Board after recognising the need for additional criminal law skills.

The Access to Justice Review, released earlier this month, also identified the need to expand the Board to ensure it had the right mix of skills to fulfil its statutory functions.

The new appointments increase the Board’s membership from four to six non-executive members.

Justice Betty King served as a Supreme Court judge in Victoria for ten years before retiring in August 2015, exactly 40 years to the day when she first signed the Bar Roll.

Admitted to practice in 1975, she became the first female crown prosecutor for the Office of Public Prosecutions in 1986, before going on to become the first female prosecutor at the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions office in 1989.

She was appointed one of three members of the National Criminal Authority in 1993, and served as the Acting Chair of the Authority before being appointed a County Court Judge in 2000 and a Supreme Court Judge in 2005.

Ms Robbie Campo was a founding member of Industry Super Australia and, in her current role as Deputy Chief Executive, she oversees strategy development, business planning, operations and collective projects.

Her role has also seen her focus on the regulation of financial advice, and leading industry super fund’s advocacy in Future of Financial Advice reforms.

Ms Campo has a Bachelor of Laws with Honours from La Trobe University and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment from the Securities Institute of Australia (now Financial Services Institute of Australasia).

Quotes attributable to Attorney-General Martin Pakula

“The Board’s expansion ensures VLA has the right balance of skills and experience to perform its important work.”

“Justice King’s experience as a prosecutor and judge provides a rounded insight into our legal system, while Robbie Campo’s strong business experience will bring an important mix of skills to the board.”

Quote attributable to Betty King

“It is my view that one of the major roles of VLA is to ensure that all participants involved in legal proceedings are heard, that is, listened to, understood and treated fairly, be it in civil, criminal, children’s court, or any other court involvement.”

Quote attributable to Robbie Campo

“I’m very excited to be joining VLA as a new member of the Board, and working with the other members to ensure this fundamental institution continues to work towards its vision of fairness and justice.”